Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-08
CAUGHT TN A CORNER.


ot these fine days, my pretty Sly
Boots!" ~ :s
Elizabeth Archleigh turned from
the hamper she was filling and looked
inquiringly toward her uncle. A
"ln what way? Not by you mo-
nopolizing everything philanthropic?
nor all the commodities OF charity?"
she smiled in roguish retort. 49,"
She knew what his comment meant.
however; and the retort was designaed
to punish him for his attempt to
tease her. E@.
This girl was sensitively reserved
almost to observation-disclosures
her charities, which were bountiful
and almost multiuudinous. -aa.
Seemingly she was only a happy
hearted, laughter-loving young lady,
somewhat impulsive, and OF a nature
neither profoundly reflective nor intense:
ly sympathetic. And it was her whim
not to disclose the graver depths be-
hind her gay and dimpling mask.
II suppose" said Uncle Guy, shrug-
ging his jolly old shoulders and whist
ling softly beneath his shaggy gray mus
tache, II suppose that thrust means
you have put me down in your black
list as q penurious and misanthropic
old bachelor. Well, my dear. if ever I
do turn philanthropist, I shall de-
mand the credit Of it, I shall not hide
my light under q bushel, nor do my
charities as if g. kindly deed were
something OF which I was hall.
ashamed"
Elizabeth's fair cheeks crimsoned
slightly, the laughing blue eyes sober
ed in an instant.
LET not the left hand know what
the right doeth," she quoted hastily,
a if some quick feeling had touched
and Jared her gentle composure.
''You do not conside. the power
OF example," her Uncle Guy continued
with gravity which was not a char
acteristic. "Your example would
arouse others to help the needy, if
you would do your good work openly
instead. of bestowing your aims and
encouragement surreptitiously, as it
were''
Eyes, a Haunting OF banners and a.
blare OF trumpets will always gain q
following OF some sort, whether for
good OF the reverse" Elizabeth re-
turned with q wi]ful toss of her hand.
some auburn head. "And if I should
advertise myself as helper OF the
needy I should be distracted by
petitions from everybody and
for everything; + should cry my.
self i'll listening to tales of woe, real or
fictitious. I shouldn't have a mo-
ment left to myself for sweet idleness;
shouldn't have bit OF time for
choosing my dresses, for my dancing,
for my gossiping and my party-going,
and for the remainder Of my necessi-
ties" =.
"Gossiping, dancing and sweet idle
ness are somewhat unique in the line
OF necessities" said Uncle Guy, laugh
ing heartily as he glanced at the fair
face, which was as solemn and in
scrutable as that Of the sphinx itself.
''If should label myself with my
pet whims," Elizabeth pursued as she
industriously crammed and packed
the big hamper, ~ should have no
end of people initiating the same
whims, perhaps, 80 I should think
better OF them than they deserve.
And I prefer to Judge people by what
they are-not by what they would
assume to be just to please me. J"
"Ah, l see! You don't purpose
taking inflated stock nor giving any
definite quotations Of your own.
You take all the points and give none;
but you may be caught in q corner
for all that, my fair sly-boots,n her
uncle repeated. 4 f III.
= DON'T be absurd, Uncle Guy" said
she, looking half-vexed at his raillery.
This keen-eyed, facetious old gentle.
man had evidently guessed q motive
in her pet whim and his banter had
disturbed her equanirnity at the mo.
ment. 81 #s a5SaS "a 81 s$5:
q Just then there was a jangle and q
clash Of sleigh bells, stopping sudd denly
at the curb before the house; the next
instant the front door gong changed;
there was the sound Of q familiar voice
in the hall above: and then she was
summoned to the drawing-room where
the visitor awaited her coming
Elizabeth knew who that visitor
was, and there was a swift color on
her fair cheeks, and a swift hight ii her
lovely eyes as she went slowly up. TO
meet him. 5 NJ s,s #S}2 5s
The girl had long ago decided that
she could love julius Keith with her
whole heart, and for all time. only he
seemed so sadly lacking ID the one GU
preme attribute which must distin-
guish the man whom she would choose
to wed. ID s
Ii julius Keith were only alittle more
benev olentl inclined, If he only show
ed q disposition to sympathlzs with
the sorrowing, is tighten the burd lens
OF the oppressed, and brighten the
gloom Of the destitute, Ne would have
fulfilled her ideal Of all which seemed
TO her noble and manly
As But he had never set manifested
that .ndispe nsable quality Of her per
tect ideal. sss
Unfortunate p,esople often caused
their own misfort nnes; IL Vas i'll ilAny
INST ances The bad nlanaRement Of the
poor which made their poverty the
Es existlng cond ition 90 things might pos
slbly be bettered;; but how, VS. 4
problem he WAS not Wise enough To
solve, :, Mr.. Keith would say Mhen the
topic MAS men toned s SIS
And e was II topic too, 10 newer
seemed eagsr "a biscuit and one which
she often ended abruptly Or bY stss
i Perhaps he uss not ppl ,ine e.